Operation Aspers

Operation Aspers (15 June 1970) was a covert operation undertaken by MACV-SOG during the Vietnam War. The United States sent special forces to assist in prisoner rescue, and they helped to free several POWs from Hanoi in North Vietnam.

History
On 15 June 1970, a team of 75 MACV-SOG special forces soldiers was dispatched to Hanoi in North Vietnam to rescue American prisoners-of-war from the North Vietnamese Army (NVA). The SOG were landed by chopper, and they launched an assault using APCs such as "Eve of Destruction" and with air support. They rescued several prisoners and evacuated them, and the team itself stayed behind for a while to hold back all NVA soldiers that would chase them down. In a short battle, the US soldiers used air support from an Mi-24 Hind to kill several NVA troops and assist them in their escape; after the Hind took out all opposition, the Americans escaped. 31 Americans and 75 NVA were killed in the operation. Operation Aspers, like almost all other MACV-SOG operations, was classified, as it was conducted on North Vietnamese soil unlike all regular combat operations. Private Dale Thomas was awarded the Bronze Star for his efforts in rescuing prisoners before his death.